ARIZONA is a popular preseason destination for many AFL clubs but Geelong is happy closer to home.

The Cats have been fine-tuning their assault on a fourth flag in seven years at Falls Creek and Mount Beauty since last week.

While they do not regard Falls Creek (1600m above sea level) as a high-altitude training affair, assistant coach Nigel Lappin said the benefits were wide-spread.

“It’s a fantastic venue,” Lappin said yesterday.

“It’s a really good opportunity for the boys to get together and bond.

“It’s just beautiful scenery and the boys are really enjoying it.”

Two players who can compare Falls Creek with overseas preseason venues are recruits Hamish McIntosh and Josh Caddy.

Ruckman McIntosh travelled to Utah with North Melbourne in 2010 and last year.

“Every team gets positives and negatives from the camps, but I just think it’s great to get away anywhere,” McIntosh said.

Caddy went to Arizona with Gold Coast last year and said it was similar in many ways to Falls Creek.

“We are doing a lot of similar things (to Arizona),” the midfielder said.

“Probably the biggest difference is you were actually in a little town (in the US). Here it’s not very populated.

“It’s really good to stay local and support the communities that support us.

“It’s obviously about the physical side but it’s also about us taking ownership of our training as a group, the next group of young fellas trying to take that next step to bring the footy club some success.”